Gazans hold symposium on Israel’s annexation plan

Ashraf Shannon
Press TV, Gaza

A symposium has been held in the blockaded Gaza Strip to discuss ways to stop Israel’s plan to annex large swathes of land in the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Palestinians view the annexation plan as a real threat to their national project.

The Center for Political and Development Studies (CPDS) which is a Gaza-based think tank held a symposium on Israel's scheme to annex parts of the occupied West Bank including the Jordan valley.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had set July 1st for the start of cabinet discussions on extending Israeli sovereignty over illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley.

Netanyahu’s scheme however has not gone exactly as planned due to increasing rifts within his ruling coalition.

Symposium attendees discussed ways of developing responses to Israel’s annexation and means to face its possible political, economic and security repercussions.

Reports say the Israeli annexation plan will cover more than 30 percent of the occupied West Bank including the Jordan Valley. Under international law, the West Bank, including Jerusalem al-Quds, is viewed as occupied territory therefore making the annexation illegal.

During his self-proclaimed so-called Deal of the Century in January, US President Donald Trump gave Netanyahu the green light to annex Palestinian areas.

Palestinians want the occupied West Bank including the Jordan valley as part of a future independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital.

Israel’s annexation plan has been slammed by both Palestinians and the international community. Experts say annexation is a major breach of international law.

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